Vehicle-washer.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

L. E. RHODES.' VEHICLE WASHER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 11, 1907.

SPM @l LEVERETT E. RHODES, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

VEHIC LE -WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 11, 1907.

Patented July '7, 1908.

Serial No. 392,360.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnvnnnrr E. RHODES, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Iilartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Vehicle-Iashers of whichthe following is a specilieation.

My invention relates to the class of devices with which a stream ofwater may be easily conducted to various points for the purpose ofwashing vehicles or like structures, and the object of my invention isto provide an effective device for this purpose having means forthoroughly protecting the lighting apparatus from the entrance of water;and a further object of the invention is to so construct a device thatwhile providing for the free delivery of water shall at the same timepossess means for freely conducting a current of electricity; and afurther object of the invention is to provide a device in which theplacing of the nozzle and consequently the light in any position shallbe unrestricted.

A form of device in the use of which these objects may be attained isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is a viewillustrating' the general construction of my improved device. Fig. 2 isa detail view on enlarged scale as to a greater part, in centralvertical section, through the structure, the binding post secured to theshell, however, being shown out of osition vin order to facilitate theillustration. Fig. 3 is an end view of the insulating shell.

In the accompanying drawings a hanger consisting of a base 5, arms 6,and a hub or union 7, is constructed for attachment to a ceiling or likepart. This union has several openings, preferably located as shown, anopening S -at the top, an inlet opening 9 at one side and an outletopening 10 at the bottom. A conduit to conduct the electric wires usedin connection with the lighting apparatus extends from the hanger, inthe form of apparatus herein shown this conduit consisting of a tube 11and a stem 33 to be hereinafter described. The tube 11 is secured withinthe opening S, an inlet pipe 12 within the opening 0 and a sleeve 13within the opening 10. A groove 14 is formed in the outer surface of theunion to receive a collar 15 rotatably mounted on the union and to whichrod supports 16 are secured.

A head 17 is rotatably supported upon the sleeve 13 in any desiredmanner, as herein shown, a flange 18 on the end of the sleeve serving tohold the head in place while permitting rotation thereof` A space 23 isformed between a neck 24 extending from the head 1.7 and the outersurface of the sleeve 13, and in this space is located a packing 19about the vflange 18 and a packing 20 between washers 21. and 22. Theneck 24 is threaded for the reception of a nut 25 having a ',lange 26with an opening for the sleeve 13. The l'langc abutting against thewasher 22 compresses the parts, thus securely packing the joint at thispoint while allowing rotation of the head 1 7 upon the sleeve 13. A lockbolt 27 may be employed to lock the nut to the neck 24 if desired.

The tube 11 is of a length to extend through the head 17 and projecttherefrom, a packing 2S and gland 29 being employed to pack the jointsat this point. Delivery pipes 30 are secured to the head 17, these pipesbeing sustained at their outer ends hy the supporting rods 16. A hose 31may be secured. to either or both olfl the pipes 3() for the delivery ofwater to any desired point.

A hood 32 having a hollow stem 337 projecting centrally from its undersurface, is secured to the end of the tube 11 this tube and steinforming the conduit as hereinbefore described. This hood is of properdimensions to overlie and cover the parts immediately secured to thestem This hood affords a shield for a shell located underneath andthoroughly protects the latter from the drippings of any water ormoisture which might be caused by leaking at the joints, or from theconditions of the atmosphere.

The stem has a shoulder 34 to receive a washer 35 interposed between theshoulder and a shell 36. This shell is composed of porcelain or otherinsulating material and is mounted to rotate upon that part of theconduit included in the stem 33, it being rotatably connected to rotatewith the delivery pipes 30 as by means of an arm 37 secured in anydesired manner. Binding posts 3S are secured to. the shell 3G,projecting therethrough. and having on their inner ends brushes 39, oneof these brushes and posts beingnemployed for conducting a current ofelectricity in one direction and the other for conveying it in theopposite direction. A cap 40 also constructed of porcelain or otherinsulating material, and preferably with a iiange overlying the edge ofthe shell or cup 36, is secured to the end of the conduit, namely, tothe stern 33, as by means of screws 41 projecting through grooves 42 inYthe'cap and into the stem 33. The cap has shoulders 43 lying within theshell and upon the shoulders are contact rings 44 connected with thebinding posts 45. Vires 46 leading from a suitable source oi electricenergy, extend downward through the tube l1 and are connected with thebinding posts 45. The brushes 39 are held in yielding contact with thecontact rings 44, so that as the shell 36 is rotated in the operationvof the device a strong electric contact is maintained at all times.lires 47 extend from the binding posts 3S to an electric light 48, ofany usual form and construction.

It will be noted from the above description that in the washing of avehicle the conducting pipes 30 may be easily and freely rotated to anyposition, bringing the delivery end of the hose to any point desired.The light 48 will thus be located at all times over the point at whichoperations are being conducted, and in this rotation of the arms aperfect circuit for the electric current is always maintained. A packingring 49 is located between the edge of the s'hell 36 and the cap 40,thus protecting the parts located within the shell against the entranceof water or the like which may be spattered in the washing operation.The conducting wires are maintained in their normal position withouttwisting in the rotation of the parts m use.

I claiml. A tubular support having a passage for water and an inlet pipeconnected therewith, a head rotatably mounted on said support, adelivery pipe connected with said head, a conduit secured to saidsupport and extending through the water passage and through said head, ashell supported by and rotatable upon said conduit, a cap fixed to saidconduit, binding posts secured to the cap, wires extending through thetube and connected with said binding posts, rings mounted on the ca andconnected with said binding posts, inding posts secured to the shell andin sliding contact with ,said rings, wires extending from said bindingposts, and a lamp supported by said head to receive said wires.

2. A tubular support having a passage for water and an inlet pipeconnected therewith, a head rotatably mounted on said support, deliverypipes connected -with said head, a conduit secured to the support andprojecting through said water assage and head, a shell rotatably suported by said conduit, an arm secured to saic shell and to one of thedelivery pipes, a cap secured to said conduit, binding posts mounted onsaid cap, contact rings on the cap connected with said binding posts,wires extending through said conduit and connected with said bindingposts, binding posts secured to the shell, contacts connected with saidposts and in sliding connection With said rings, a lamp supported bysaid head, and wires connecting said lamp with the binding osts on theshell.

3. A tubu ar support having a water passage and an inlet pipe connectedtherewith, a head rotatably mounted on said support, delivery pipesconnected with said head, a conduit secured to said support andprojecting through said water passage and head, a shell supported by androtatable upon said conduit, a cap secured against rotation and havingshoulders located within said shell, oontact rings located on saidshoulders, binding posts on the cap connected with said rings,

wires extending through the conduit and connected with said bindingposts, binding posts secured to said shell, contacts connected with saidosts and in sliding engagement with said rings, a lamp supported by jsaid head, and wires connecting said lamp and the binding posts on theshell.

4. A tubular support having a water passage therethrough and an inletpipe connected thereto, a head rotatably mounted on said support,delivery pipes extending from said head, a tube secured to said supportand extending through the water passage therein, a hood secured to theend of the tube and having a stern, a shell rotatably mounted on saidstem, a cap secured to said stem,

binding posts secured to the cap, contact rings located within the shelland connected with said posts, wires extending through said tube andconnected with said binding posts, binding posts secured to said shell,contacts connected with said posts and in sliding engagement with saidrings, a vlamp supported by said head, and wires connecting said lam andbinding posts on the shell.

5. A tubu ar support having a water passage and an inlet pipe connectedthereto, a

head rotatably mounted on said support, de-

livery pipes extending from said head, a con'- duit secured to saidsupport and projecting through the water passage therein, a shellsupported by and rotatable upon said conduit, a cap projecting withinsaid shell and rigidly connected with said conduit, a packing locatedbetween said cap and shell, binding posts secured to the cap, contactrings located within the shell and connected with said posts, wiresextending through said conduit and connected with said binding posts,binding posts secured to said shell, contacts connected with said postsand in sliding engagement with said rings, a lamp supported by saidhead, and wires connecting said lamp and binding posts on the shell.

6. :A tubular support having a water passage and an inlet pipe connectedtherewith,

a head rotatably mounted on said support, delivery pipes connected withsaid head, a tube secured to said support and projecting from said waterpassage and head, a hood secured to said tube and having a pro'ectingstem, a shell mounted to rotate on sai stem, and rigidly connected withthe delivery pipe, a ca rojecting within the shell and having shou ers,binding posts secured to the cap, contact rings located on saidshoulders, and connected with said posts, wires projecting through saidtube and connectedwith said binding posts, binding posts secured to saidshell, contacts connected with said posts and in sliding engagement withsaid rings, a lamp supported by said head, and Wires extendingbletj'feen said lamp and binding posts on the s 1e 7. A tubular supporthaving a water passage and an inlet pipe connected therewith, a headrotatably mounted on said support, delivery pipes connected with saidhead, a tube secured to said support and projectinfT through said waterassage and head, a she rotatably supportecPby said tube, a cap rojectingwithin the shell, screws exten( ing across the cap to secure it to saidtube, binding posts located on the cap, contacts located within saidshell and connected with said posts, wires extending from said tube tosaid binding posts, binding osts secured to the shell, contactsconnectedD with said posts and in sliding engagement with the contactsof the binding posts from the cap, a lamp supported by said head, andwires extending between thebinding posts on the shell and said lamp.

S. A tubular support having a passage for water and an inlet pipeconnected therewith,

a head rotatably mounted on said su port, a delivery pipe connected withsaid lead, a tube secured against rotation to said support and extendingthrough the water passage and through said head, a shell rotatablysupported by said tube a cap having a plural number of ste ped shoulderslocated within the recess in t e shell, binding posts secured to thecap, wires extending through the tube and connected with said bindingposts, a ring su ported upon each of a plural number of said steps andconnected with said binding osts, binding posts secured to the shelland) in sliding contact with said rings, wires extending from saidbinding posts, and a lamp supported by said head to receive said wires.

9. A tubular support having a passage for water and an inlet pipeconnected therewith, a head rotatably mounted on said su port, adelivery pipe connected with said lead, a conduit secured againstrotation to said support and extending through the water passage andthrough said head, a shell supported by and rotatable upon said conduit,a cap secured to said conduit and projecting within the shell, bindingposts secured to the outer surface of the cap, wires extending throughthe conduit and connected to said binding posts, rings mounted on the cawithin the shell and connected with said binding posts, binding postssecured to the shell and in sliding contact with said rings, wiresextending from said binding osts, and a lamp supported by said headp toreceive said wnes.

LEVERETT E. RHODES. Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. JENKINS, L. E. Bnaxovrron.

